Cord-tension alarm.



Patented Dec, 25,, I900.

No. 664,7l7.

C. BRANSGRQVE. CORD TENSION ALARM.

(Application filed Feb. 15, 1900.

(No ModeL) l Bramyrore, 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BRANSGROVE, OF LULU, MICHIGAN.

CORD-TENSION ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,717, dated December25,1966.

Application filed February 15, 1900. serial No. 5,335. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES BRANsGnovE', a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Lulu, in the county of Monroe and State of Michigan,have invented a certain new and useful Cord-Tension Alarm, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being bad therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to cord tension alarms, and while especiallydesigned for use on harvesters and grain-binders is also applicable as aburglar or fire alarmand may be employed in many places where it isdesirable to throw in action a continuous alarm by which the fact thatthe parts have been disarranged is audibly indicated.

One object of the invention is to provide, in connection with acontinuous alarm, a trip for throwing the alarm mechanism into action,which trip is held in engagement with the alarm mechanism and the latterinactive by the running cord or twine of aharvester,grainbinder, orother machine, the arrangement being such that when the cord breaks orthe end of the cord is reached the alarm mechanism will be tripped andwill operate continuously until it runs down or is stopped by theattendant. The operator having his attention called to the fact that thecord has broken or given out may at once repair the break in the cordor'place a new ball of cord in the cord box or receptacle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the courseof the ensuing description.

The invention consists in certain novel fea tures and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth,illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing theinvention applied to an alarm-clock adapted to be fastened to amachine-frame. Fig. 2 is a detail section through the rear wall of theclock, showing the trip mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of amodified form of trip, showing the friction-rollers in section. Fig. 4is a detail view of another form of trip, showing a portion of the backof the clock-case in section.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

The mechanism forming the subject-matter of this invention is of a verysimple char a'cter and may housed in connection with any continuousalarm mechanism, with oi" without the ordinary time-clock mechanism.

In the drawings I have shown the common form of alarm-clock, (indicatedat 1,) having the usual back 2 and held by a clamping rim or band 3.

4 designates the alarm-bell; 5, the hammer; 6, the hammer-arm, and 7 thepallet, c011- nected to the hammer-arm and actuated by the wheel 8,which is revolved by the usual spring-actuated gearing. (Not shown.)

In order to attach the device as a whole to a convenient part of theframe of a harvester, binder, or other machine, a hollow base orpedestal 9 is adjustably connected with the clamping-band and for thatpurpose is provided with recesses 10, in which the extremitiesoi' theband 3 are received, one of such extremities being permanently butpivotally secured to the base by a screw 11 and the other by athumb-screw 12, by turning which the rim or band 3 may be tightened orloosened for a purpose hereinafter described. Passing through the bottomof the base 9 is a bolt 13, by which the device may be securely fastenedto the frame of any desired machine at any convenient point. The cord ortwine (indicated at 14) passes through guide-eyes 15, which forconvenience are illustrated in the form of holes in an annular flange orrim 16 on the clock-case, which is clamped within and held in place bythe band 3 when the screw 12 is tightened. By loosening the screw 12 thecase 1 and flange 16 may be partially turned to bring the holes 15 intoline with the direction in which the cord 14 must run, such adjustmentbeing illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The trip mechanism comprises a spring-arm 17, secured at one end to ablock 18 on the back of the case 1, so as to offset said arm from theback. The free end of the arm 17 carries a trip pin or finger 19, whichworks through an opening 20 in the back 2 and is held in the path of thehammer-arm 6 by the action of the cord on the spring-arm 17, thusholding the alarm mechanism inactive.

A bracket 21 is secured to the back 2 and is shaped to form a loopthrough which the arm 17 passes. A presser-foot 22 also passes throughthe loop-bracket and is secured at l seen that the running cord, beingunder ten' one end to the arm 17, diverging toward its opposite end awayfrom the arm 17 to leave a V-shaped space for the passage of the cord,which is thus frictionally grasped between said parts and held under thenecessary tension. The guide-eyes 15 direct the cord and keep it inproper relation to the tripping device. An adjusting-screw 23 passesthrough bracket 21 and bears against the presser-foot 22 and serves as ameans for regulating the pressure on the cord 14. Any bunch, knot,

. or other enlargement on the cord will, howbetween the rollers.

ever, pass between the arm 17 and presser- ,foot 22 without breaking thecord. The cord may be taken from any suitable spool or bobbin undertension, if necessary, and as it passes through the guide eyes 15 andbetween the arm 17 and presser-foot 22 holds the pin 19 in the path ofthe hammer-arm by overcoming the tension of the spring-arm 17. Shouldthecord, however, break or give out, the tension is relieved and the pin 19is thrown outward by the arm 17, with the result that the continuousalarm mechanism is released and allowed to act.

The spring-arm and presser-foot may be constructed as shown in Fig. 3,in which 17 designates the arm, and 22 the presser-foot. In said figureboth are shown as formed in one piece from a length of. spring-Wire andunited by a spring-coil2et, the extremity of the arm being bent to formthe trip-pin 19. An annular enlargement 25 is provided on both the armand presser-t'oot to form seats for a pair of antifriction-rollers 26,each having its upper end rounded or beveled, as shown, to facilitatethe entrance of the cord One roller is also provided with an annularflange 27 at its lower end, which revolves beneath the other roller andprevents the cord from dropping below the rollers. The trip-arm may beconnected to the alarm-case by a suitable bracket or in any convenientmanner.

In Fig. i I have illustrated a trip of modified form. The trip iscomposed of a strip of spring metal, the spring-arm portion being shownat 17" and the extremity thereof being bent at an angle to form thetrip-finger 19", which is pointed or made V-shaped and adapted to passthrough an opening in the back of the clockcase in the manner abovedescribed. The

between the spring-arm 17" and the presserfoot 22", the relation betweenthe cord and. the spring-arm and presser-foot being the same as thatheretofore described.

' From the foregoing description it will be sion, acts to hold the tripin engagement with the alarm mechanism, the latter in turn being heldinactive. breaks or runs out the trip-arm springs outward, drawing thetrip-pin out of engagement As soon, however, as the cord with thehammer, which immediately begins to vibrate and impinge against thebell. The

alarm rings continuously until it runs down, thus giving the attendantample notice.

28 designates the key for. winding up the con-" This enables the base tobe attached to any convenient part of the machineQframe and sition or toany angle which will allow the cord or twine 14 to'pa'ss in a straightline .85 the clock-case to be adjusted to a' vertical pothrough theguide-eyes 15 and between the spring-arm and presser-foot. In someinstances it may be necessary to provide an adl ditional holder orhanger upon which to V mount the alarm-case 1 or the base 9. I do notdeem it necessary to illustrate such a hanger or holder, as its formwill vary according to the machine to which the alarm is to be applied.

' It will be obvious that changes may be made in the form, proportion,and minor details of construction without departing from the prin'-ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages 'of 5 the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. Thecombinationwith continuous alarm mechanism, of a cord-controlledspring-arm, a trip-finger carried thereby and normally engaging thealarm mechanism, and a spring 7 presser-foot on said arm between whichand the arm a running cord is adapted .to travel,

scribed.

n5 7 substantially as and for the purpose de-V 2. The combination withcontinuous alarm mechanism, of a cord-controlled spring-arm,

a trip-finger carried thereby and normally enrrs' gaging the alarmmechanism, a presser-foot and means for adjusting'said presser-foot',

substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination with a suitable frame,

of continuous alarm mechanism, an alarm-F" trip connected with the frameand controlled by a running cord, and a surrounding flange havingopposite cordguide openings, substantially as described.

continuous alarm mechanisnn'ot a cord-controlled spring-arm, atrip-finger carried there- 7 by and normally engaging the alarmmechanism, an annular flange provided with cordguide eyes at oppositesides, and an annular clamping-band in which the alarm-case isadjustably mounted, substantially as described.

I2 5 1 4. The combination with an alarm-case and 1 5. The combinationwith an alarm-case and 1 continuous alarm mechanism, of a band in whichthe case is rotatably adjustable, a cordcontrolled spring-arm on thecase, a trip-finger carried thereby and normally engaging the alarmmechanism, an annular flange on the case having cord-guide eyes, andmeans for clamping the case Within the band, substantially as described.

6. The combination with continuous alarm mechanism, of a cord-controlledspring-arm,

a trip-finger carried thereby and normally ongaging the alarm mechanism,a presser-foot associated with the spring-arm, a bracket embracing thepresser-foot and arm, and an adjusting-screw for adjusting theresser-foot, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

CHARLES BRANSGROVE.

Witnesses:

H. G. STEWART, BERTHA C. LEHN.

